im looking to get an aussie or power track no slip locker for my xj in the rear but a quick question i saw a video on how they work and it said when u turn the locker disengages but if ur wheeling and u start to turn does it release then too? please help my understand this alil more

"Lunchbox" style lockers (open/closed) like you are talking about are locked when torque is applied. If you've got a rear locker, for example, it is locked when you apply the throttle and unlocked when you let off. Going around a corner on the street while giving it gas will lock the rear locker and cause the tires to squeal or scrape. In the front, when in 2wd, there is no torque being applied and the locker remains unlocked. Around turns, you just hear a mild clicking noise.

I believe with most auto lockers, the outside axle is unlocked in a turn, gas on or not. If enough gas is applied in a turn, and the inside wheel looses traction, then the diff locks when the inside axle reaches the same rpm as the outside axle. The diff only unlocks (auto lockers) in a turn.....or at least that's the way the PowerTrax No-Slip performs.....and it doesn't make a clicking/ratcheting noise in a turn. Had 4 of 'em in various vehicles, almost as invisible as a limited slip in a DD.

I have front and rear Aussie lockers in 2 vehicles and when you give it gas in 4WD, they are locked, turning or not. In 2WD only the rear locks when you're on the throttle. That's why debates pop up sometimes about driving and steering in snow with a front auto locker.

I believe with most auto lockers, the outside axle is unlocked in a turn, gas on or not. If enough gas is applied in a turn, and the inside wheel looses traction, then the diff locks when the inside axle reaches the same rpm as the outside axle. The diff only unlocks (auto lockers) in a turn.....or at least that's the way the PowerTrax No-Slip performs.....and it doesn't make a clicking/ratcheting noise in a turn. Had 4 of 'em in various vehicles, almost as invisible as a limited slip in a DD.

I am not familiar with Powertrax lockers but I can tell you that Aussies have springs inside that push the locker to the open position. With even just a small amount of torque, the springs are compressed and the locker shuts to the closed position. That's as simple as it gets.

If I go around a turn, on or off road, heavy on the throttle, the tires will squeal and scrape.

If I coast through a turn with no throttle, the locker pops to the open position, clicks a little, and locks once I get on the gas. The force from the axle shafts turning at different speeds overrides what little/no force is coming from the drivetrain.

I just read the FAQs on their (Aussie) website and they are helpful but somewhat misleading.

Edit: Just to clarify, I'm basing this information from a few years of daily driving a vehicle with front and rear aussie lockers, and having them front and rear in my Jeep.

I am not familiar with Powertrax lockers but I can tell you that Aussies have springs inside that push the locker to the open position. With even just a small amount of torque, the springs are compressed and the locker shuts to the closed position. That's as simple as it gets.

If I go around a turn, on or off road, heavy on the throttle, the tires will squeal and scrape.

If I coast through a turn with no throttle, the locker pops to the open position, clicks a little, and locks once I get on the gas. The force from the axle shafts turning at different speeds overrides what little/no force is coming from the drivetrain.

I just read the FAQs on their (Aussie) website and they are helpful but somewhat misleading.

Edit: Just to clarify, I'm basing this information from a few years of daily driving a vehicle with front and rear aussie lockers, and having them front and rear in my Jeep.

Wouldn't the springs be pushing the 2 locker halves outward to the "locked" position (teeth engaged in the pic), not the "open" position (teeth disengaged)?

When the springs are compressed, wouldn't one side (outside axle in a turn) of the locker "open" (teeth disengage to allow differentiation), in a turn?

If the locker/axle doesn't need to "differentiate", going straight gas off, why would it unlock?

PowerTrax No-Slip don't ratchet/click/make noise in a turn, maybe it doesn't dis-engage when u lift the pedal......why would it need too, when going straight?

Wouldn't the springs be pushing the 2 locker halves outward to the "locked" position (teeth engaged in the pic), not the "open" position (teeth disengaged)?

When the springs are compressed, wouldn't one side (outside axle in a turn) of the locker "open" (teeth disengage to allow differentiation), in a turn?

If the locker/axle doesn't need to "differentiate", going straight gas off, why would it unlock?

PowerTrax No-Slip don't ratchet/click/make noise in a turn, maybe it doesn't dis-engage when u lift the pedal......why would it need too, when going straight?

Maybe I got it backwards on the spring operation (It has been over a year since the Jeep installation so I don't remember exactly what they look like) but the actual driving experience with the locker is exactly what happens for me. Like I said, I don't have any experience with the Powertrax No Slip. The locker also would not need to unlock when going straight, and maybe it doesn't. It probably works with 2 forces - power from the drivetrain vs power from the axleshafts wanting to move at different speeds. Whichever one generates more power/force is the one that wins (maybe?) I wish I could attach a video camera to my axles or something so I can show you.